Chicago Bulls Begin 2025-26 NBA Season Facing Tough Schedule Amid Injury Concerns

The Chicago Bulls are entering the 2025-26 NBA season with cautious optimism despite a pattern of slow starts that have kept them out of the playoffs, as they tend to finish strong but falter early in the season. Executive VP Artūras Karnišovas and coach Billy Donovan emphasize the importance of building a team identity and hope for growth from young core players like Matas Buzelis, Josh Giddey, and Coby White, although White will start the season injured. The Bulls maintained much of their roster from last season, adding only Isaac Okoro and Noa Essengue, which has created skepticism among fans about the team's ambition in an increasingly competitive Eastern Conference. Despite this, there are signs of promise: the lineup featuring White, Giddey, Huerter, and Buzelis showed positive on-court impact last season, and Buzelis has impressed in preseason play. The team begins their campaign facing a tough schedule and must overcome early season challenges, including being home underdogs against the struggling Detroit Pistons, but there is some betting value in their improving competitiveness. Overall, while the Bulls may remain outsiders for a playoff spot, the continuity and developing young talent offer a potential foundation for future success.